Roker Report Score Predictions: Northampton Town v Sunderland

With the holidays coming during the enforced break in play, it seems like a lifetime since Sunderland last took to the field and also when our last panel would blindly back a Sunderland victory. Which is exactly what happened last time out when all six went for a home win against AFC Wimbledon.

So it’s as we were in our table. Let’s find out what our panel predict as Sunderland return to action with a trip to Northampton Town...

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Philip Butler predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

It's a bit of a stab in the dark trying to predict the outcome of this game. Whilst the 18-day break has given Jordan Willis and Lynden Gooch a chance to recover fully from injury, the rest of the team can either be considered rusty or fresh – depending on the performance this afternoon.

For that reason, I've gone for a Sunderland win, and since I don't back us to win from behind this is most likely to come hand and hand with a clean sheet. Charlie Wyke is living up to his number nine shirt so far this season, so when I'm unsure as to how we'll perform he's the man I'm picking to score our first in a two-nil win.

Photo by Andrew Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 1-4 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

It is the oddest feeling ever to be massively looking forward to playing away against the Cobblers – but given we haven’t seen any football from the lads for more than two weeks, I’d watch them kick a tin up the high street at the moment.

I am hopeful that Lee will have the lads tactically very well drilled and as fit as possible given the situation we are exiting from, and while we may have a couple of lads a little chesty, Northampton played on Tuesday night so will be less rested. I think the Cobblers lads will maybe nick a consolation, but we should have way too much for them given how we played away at Sincil Bank, post-Corona. The sooner we get our points back towards 2+ per game the better, just in case the EFL bottle it and kill the season early again. However, I am very hopeful that, unlike last season, our new style of football will be allowed to do the talking.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Matthew Foster predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 0-1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

It feels like months since I last had Sunderland to potentially ruin my weekend, and boy have I missed it. I’ve been filling my Sunderland-free time by watching any football possible to feed my fix, but it’s just not the same.

Given our absence from League action, there may potentially be a hangover from the COVID-19 outbreak at the Academy, so I expect the lads to be a bit sluggish against Northampton.

The League One newcomers are hovering above the relegation trap door, with sides below them having up to three games in hand. Their ultimate aim will be to survive this season, and anything above 20th will suit them down to the ground.

Since our last game at AFC Wimbledon, we’ve dropped to 11th in the table, and now play catch up, with an automatic spot seven points away. We even trail the final play-off position spot by four.

No matter what, we need three points on the board today. And while I suspect a sluggish performance, I can still see us winning the game and getting ourselves back into the swing of things.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 0 -2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jack Diamond

It’s nice to be back after a four-game layoff due to Covid, and hopefully, the team will have benefited from the rest time both in terms of fatigue and injuries.

Northampton have had an unspectacular season so far, hovering above the relegation places following their promotion from League Two. They have lost two of their last three fixtures of 2020, which were both lost four goals to nil.

Sam Hoskins seems to be their major threat both in terms of goals and supply, with four apiece across both. Other than that, no one really stands out but as always, we will need to remain vigilant defensively.

Sunderland back to full strength, although perhaps lacking in some match sharpness, should be looking to put Northampton to the sword. A similar showing to that at Lincoln will provide just the tonic for us to do that, and start off 2021 on the right foot.

I fancy us to register a comfortable 2-0 win, with Jack Diamond providing the opener cutting in from wide. Exciting to be back. Hopefully, the football lives up to the billing.

Photo by Andrew Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images

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Will Jones predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 1-3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Aiden McGeady

God, it seems like it’s been a while. Should be good to be back!

Lots of players are closing in on fitness..new year, takeover, transfer window... all new and hopefully a new era! This is the perfect game for LJ to get his team motoring – they have been training for a week and should be raring to go.

Northampton have lost four of their last five in the league, in which two were heavy 4-0 drubbings by two teams (Oxford and Lincoln) that we have cruised through.

This has to be a statement from the team, I’m expecting a strong line-up, a strong persona and a strong performance.

Let’s push on and up that PPG quick!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Martin Wanless predicts...

Score Prediction: Northampton Town 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

After the Lincoln game, it all looked so rosy didn’t it? And I think that still needs to give us confidence in our trajectory under Lee Johnson. The Wimbledon game was a misnomer – it shouldn’t have been played. As a consequence, Johnson’s had a couple of weeks to continue implementing his plans, catchphrases and pattern of play – albeit primarily over Zoom – and hopefully, we’ll see some of the benefits today.

Northampton are a poor side and, despite our enforced break and a few unknowns in terms of both availability and fitness, we simply must pick up three points. I’m going for an attritional 2-0 win, with Charlie Wyke continuing his good goalscoring form.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images